Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
The racing focus will switch to Albion Park across the next three Saturday nights as the Queensland Summer Harness Season kicks in.
Across the weekend, racing will come from 'The Creek' on Friday and Saturday night before Marburg fill their popular Sunday afternoon slot with an eight-race card.
However, it will be Saturday night where all eyes will be focussed with the Be Good Johnny Sprint, Peak of The Creek, Queen Of The Creek and a strong open class trot featuring on the nine-race meeting.
CHILLA v MIKI
The Queen Of The Creek is slated as race eight and despite a strong field of mares assembled for the feature, it looks a battle in two.
Will it be the three-year-old filly Aardie B Miki, to be driven by Pete McMullen, or the four-year-old mare Chynchilla, partnered by Nathan Dawson, that proves superior to gain the coronation and be crowned the Queen Of The Creek?
The pair have met only once previously, on that occasion it was Chynchilla that held the front-line advantage and stayed in front of the filly that chased gamely for second placing.
Since that meeting, Chynchilla has won another two races at 'The Creek' to stretch her winning streak to four, while Aardie B Miki has been to Victoria where she won a heat of the Oaks before a tough run in the Final saw her miss the money.
This time it is Aardie B Miki that holds an early advantage from the draw, landing gate six, while Chynchilla will start from gate 10.
It shapes as a terrific showdown, with the added interest of the states leading two drivers also going head-to-head.
McMullen is currently leading the premiership by eight wins over Dawson.
BID FOR VICTORY
A full field of trotters will do battle in the feature, with the barrier draw ensuring that it will be an evenly contested event.
Is That A Bid has finished in the top two in all of his five appearances at Albion Park.
Is That A Bid's two wins in those five starts produced track record performances on each occasion.
The Shannon Price-trained Inter Dominion hopeful will need to overcome a second line gate to secure victory.
The seven-year-old finished second behind Hammer Son under similar conditions two starts back.
On that occasion Is That A Bid was resuming from a freshen and he has since been runner-up again, behind Top Of The Moment who sprouted wings in the last 150 metres to deny the Price-trained gelding the victory.
Zealous Spur was a strong winner last week at the mobile mile when sitting parked outside the leader.
Zealous Spur claimed just his second win under mobile conditions in 37 attempts and has drawn awkwardly inside the second line for this.
Funny Face was under two metres from Zealous Spur last week and should strip fitter for the run which was her first for the new stable following her last start victory back in August.
PEAK POWER
The fourth running of the Peak Of The Creek is the main feature on the night with four heats for the $52,000 Final held on Tuesday.
With each finalist picking their own barrier in order of finishing position and individual time in the heats, it was no surprise to see connections of Betterthan Popsy take gate one for Saturday as the fastest heat winner.
Attachment started from gate seven in his heat, zooming across in the early stages to find the front and once in control, 'Leader Pete' did his thing.
With the second choice of barriers, Pete McMullen secured gate two and the classy three-year-old will be looking to give the Chantal Turpin and McMullen team their third win in the race, having won the 2023 edition with Aardies Flash and also the inaugural running in 2021 with Uncle Shank.
Our Benson for Narissa McMullen was a strong second behind Betterthan Popsy after setting the tempo in their heat and with the trailing draw to follow out Attachment, Our Benson should enjoy an easier time in the early stages.
The four-year-old was an impressive winner two starts back powering home off tempo and will be following what should be a genuine speed in this race.
TRACK RECORD IN DANGER
Four horses have been able to break the 1.50 barrier at Albion Park and all four will line up in the Be Good Johnny Sprint.
Blacksadance, Jimartee, Braedos Lad and Always Smokin are the lone members of the 'sub-50 club' and all four will face tough barriers to claim the sprint race named after one of the greats of Queensland harness and the first Queensland-trained pacer to win the Grand Circuit.
Turn It Up will be contesting his fourth Be Good Johnny Sprint, a race he is yet to win, although he has placed twice, including a second placing in last year’s edition behind Future Assured.
Track record holder Blacksadance will also contest the race for the fourth time, finishing third in 2023, fourth in 2021 and claiming a dictating victory in the 2022 renewal.
To jump at 8.04pm, it shapes as a cracking contest, with Jimartee the early favourite, despite being first-up from a break for Cristina Monte.
GET ON
Is That A Bid.
The square gaiter is progressing nicely and his great record at 'The Creek' holds him in good stead for this contest.
The second line over the longer 2138 metre trip does not looks a concern.
